The wideouts were both slow to get up after absorbing the hits. Colston went to the locker room for a concussion test, but returned to the game after he was upended by Goldson on a play that resulted in Whitner’s 42-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was asked what message such collisions send to wide receivers who run over the middle against the 49ers.

“If they watch enough film,” Fangio said, “they’ll see that there’s some land mines in there that they might step on.”

** Don Shula, 82, the winningest coach in NFL history, said Jim Harbaugh is taking a gamble that could pay off handsomely by naming Colin Kaepernick the 49ers’ starting quarterback.

“It might be a risk, but it might be a stroke of genius,” Shula said on NFL AM on NFL Network. “If it works out, he is going to be given a lot of credit (for going) out and making that move in a situation where it would be easier to do the other thing.”

Added Shula: “He has to have a real conviction to (make a quarterback change) because Alex Smith is the proven commodity. (Kaepernick) is the one he thinks might take them further. Obviously he has that conviction and, so far, it looks as if he has made the right decision.”

** In praising Michael Crabtree, offensive coordinator Greg Roman noted how Jim Harbaugh had said the wide receiver had the best hands he’d ever seen.

Who has the best hands Roman has ever seen? After a pause, Roman borrowed a handy line from Harbaugh.